Bracelet and neck-chain.



PATENTBD MAY 19,

l P. P. BARNEY. BRAGBLET AND NECK CHAIN.

AP-PLICATION FILED NOV.5, 1907.

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STATES PATENT CFFTCE.

FRANK P. BARNEY, OF CHARTLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES D. LYONS, OF MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRACELET AND NECK-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application filed November 5, 1907. Serial No. 400,734.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. BARNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chartley, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets and Neck-Chains, of which the following is ai-specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible bracelets and neck-chains.

The present improvement, however, pertains more particularly to the novel construction of the units and the links connecting them, and it consists, essentially, of a plurality of linked units, each comprising an annular or round cup-shaped member of metal constructed so as to form the setting for a stone or other suitable ornament, and having the walls of said units provided with oppositely disposed alining lateral openings through each of which is inserted a flat link, its inner portion being bent rearwardly upon itself to lock it to the unit and having its outer portion bent to form an eye in which latter an elongated coupling is securely yet movably retained, and a clasp for detachably securing the two ends of the chain together, all as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

My improved bracelet is so devised that it may be readily reversed if desired, that is to say, the concave face, when in use, which directly contacts with the arm of the wearer, may, upon unclasping the bracelet and flexing it backwardly and reclasping it, then constitute the outer or convex face, thus combining two distinct styles or patterns in one bracelet.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of a clasped bracelet embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation or face view, greatly enlarged, showing a plurality of the units linked together in a straight line; a pair of the units being in horizontal section to more clearly represent the connecting links and also showing the catch or clasping device. Fig. 3 is a corresponding sectional view, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sheet-metal blank before being bent to form a link. Fig. 5 represents an end or edge view of a pair of the links united by a coupling and detached from the main units. Fig. 6 is a transverse central sectional view, still further enlarged, showing the cup-shaped setting 3 the stone, &c., being omitted. Fig. 7 is a corresponding section showing the several members mounted in the setting, and also corresponding with a section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vertical wall of the setting, &c., and Fig. 9 is a central sectional view of one of the units, showing a modification of the setting member.

A, in the drawings, designates a chain bracelet embodying my invention. The units, a, carrying the gems or stones m, have each a round cup-shaped setting, b, of thin metal and produced say from gold-plated stock. The upper portion, b2, of the annular wall b1 of said member b is gradually drawn or attenuated (see enlarged view Fig. 6) and terminates in the thin protected edge b5. This latter is produced by turning inwardly or folding over the extreme sharp edge part b3, shown by dotted lines in greatly enlarged scale in Fig. 8, so that when thus bent the resulting edge, b5; completely conceals the base metal and presents only a gold covered surface. The side walls are pierced with oppositely disposed transverse rectangular shaped openings b4; the same lying in the horizontal plane of the unit and about midway of its height or width, all as clearly shown.

In order to flexibly connect the members a I employ flat links, c, formed from blanks cut out of suitable thin sheet-metal. Said blank, e, one being represented in Fig. 4, is substantially rectangular in form, its width lpeing equal to the length of the said opening 4 notched at c3 near one end thus leaving a tie portion, c5, between them, and having the adjacent end part or tongue, c6, well rounded. The blank is converted into a link c by rst bending or folding the stock upon itself at the line c7 (Fig. 4), the free edge of the part c2 then lying adjacent the said tie c5; at lthe same time too the stock at the bend is formed into an open eye c1 to receive the elongated wire coupling Z.

Fig. 5 represents a pair of the links coupled together preparatory to being secured to the units a. This latter operation is eected by inserting the free end and The blank, as drawn, is oppositely 1 body portions of the link into the opening b4 (the depth of the latter being equal to two thicknesses of the link stock) followed by bending the part ci downwardly and snugly against the underside of the adjacent portion of the link, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When thus bent the edge of the part or tongue c engages the inner side of the wall of the member b, thus securely locking the link to the unit, since the opening b4 will not permit the passage or withdrawal of the then three-ply thicknesses of stock.

In mounting the stone or other suitable or ornamental member m' in the setting b, I prefer to first place therein one or more disks, f, of slightly compressible material, as

card-board, the same then resting upon the inserted portions of the two links c, Fig. 3, followed by placing the member fm in position. Now by means ofsuitable swaging or bending tools, deemed unessential herewith, the tapering portion b2 of the setting is deflected from the full to the dotted line position to contact with the periphery of the stone, its upper end being further bent at the same time to rigidly hold the stone in place, as clearly indicated at b, Figs. S and 7.

The two end units of the bracelet or chain are detachably connected by means of the integral spring-catch or snap r, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thisl member is made of stock, as yGerman silver, possessing a suitable degree of resiliencyl and .is provided with a pair of connected diverging arms, each having a bent exterior head r1 approximating in form and size an end of the said coupling Z. The free end of each arm is mounted to swing in an eye, c1, of the adjacent link and has a short inturned extension, r2, constituting when in use a stop. One of the arms has a side lug, r3. The thickness of the catch member is practically the same as the depth of the unit openings b4. The head portion of the catch may if desired be provided with push members, r4, to facilitate its manipulation. The link for carrying the catch is practically the same as the other links, the difference being in providing it with an opening c4, indicated also in Fig. 4 by dotted lines, for the said end part, r2, of the catch, as shown in Fig. 2. The resiliency of the catch keeps the head members thereof normally separated, the eye c1 of the link in cooperation with the parts r2 serving as a stop for limiting the lateral movement in one direction, sufficient play being provided to permit the catch to be readily contracted in the other direction upon pressing the push members r4 (see arrows) so that the lug r3 `may then pass freely outward through the units opening b4, thus unclasping the chain. The appearance of the chain or bracelet is practically the same when viewed from either the obverse or reverse side, the difference being wholly in the outer disk-like or ornamental surfaces, substantially as hereinbefore stated. The connecting device uniting each pair of units c may be termed a doublejointed strap-hinge. The outer surfaces of the members m and b may be made plain or ornamental as desired.

In Fig. 9 the setting member, bs, of the unit ay consists of a comparatively narrow metal band or ring, its thickness transversely or cross sectionally, being much greater through the center or equator than at the two edges. It is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged openings b4 adapted to receive the links c, substantially as before described. In this case, however, a stone, m, is mounted in each face and secured in position by bending the adjacent thin edges, bc, of the setting, substantially as in the other describedl units. Packings, f, f1, are interposed' between the'backs of the members m to ll the intervening space, as indicated in said Fig. 9. i

I claim as my invention 1- 1. As an improved article of manufacture the solderless reversible bracelet or neckchain herein described, the same comprising a plurality of units having annular side walls, a pair of oppositelydisposed flat sheet-metal links mounted in and extending outwardly from the side wall of each unit in the form of an elongated 'eye, a coupling member arranged flatwise in the plane of and movably mounted in the said eye portions of a pair of adjacent links, and means for detachably securing the ends of the bracelet together.

2. A solderless chain of the character described consisting of a plurality of units having annular side walls, a pair of oppositely located flat links extending outwardly through the said wall of each unit and terminating in transversely elongated eyes, an elongated coupling member movably mounted in the eyes-of and connecting the proximate links of the corresponding pair of units, a snapcatch hinged in the end link of the chain arranged to detachably engage a unit at the opposite end of the chain, and having the said several members of the chain adapted to lie ilatwise in a common plane.

3. In a bracelet of the character described, the combination with a pair of units having annular side walls, and a pair of oppositely disposed i'lat links removably secured in the side wall of each unit and terminating in outer elongated eyes, of an elongated coupling or connecting member Z mounted in the said eyes of a pair of adjacent links and normally lying ilatwise in the same plane therewith.

4. In a bra'celet of the character described, the combination of a hollow setting member or unit having a pair Oi' Oppositely located alining openings formed in its Walls, a fiat folded sheet-metal link inserted in and practically illing each opening, the inner end portion of each link being bent so as to increase the thickness at that point thus preventing it from being accidentally Withdrawn from the setting, and coupling members hinged in Signed at Providence, R. I., this 4th day of November 1907.

FRANK P. BARNEY. Witnesses:

HENRY P. STONE, GEO. H. REMINGTON. 

